Real Madrid's appeal against their expulsion from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player was rejected by the Spanish football federation on Thursday.

Real were disqualified for including Denis Cheryshev, who opened the scoring during the 3-1 victory, in their starting line-up for last week's last 32 first leg game at third-tier Cadiz, even though he should have been serving a one-match suspension.

The Andalusian side officially complained about the Russian international's involvement and, as expected, Rafa Benitez's side have been kicked out of the competition.

Denis Cheryshev played and scored against Cadiz, despite being due to serve a suspension in the competition

The Cheryshev incident is not necessarily Benitez's fault, but that doesn't stop it reflecting badly on him

Real president Florentino Perez insisted the club had not broken the rules and said neither Cheryshev, who incurred the sanction playing on loan at Villarreal last season, nor Real were notified that he was banned.

'We received nothing, no note, nothing from the Spanish FA. We'll take this to the appeals, then the arbitration court,’ said Perez last week.

'If the player is not notified of his sanction, as article 41 states, then the sanction is not in effect.

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'We have hope that we will win this battle and continue in the Copa del Rey.'

However, the RFEF sharply criticised Real in an initial nine-page ruling, saying they should have been aware of the ban, and as well as disqualifying the club fined them £4,331.

The federation's appeals committee rejected Real's plea, meaning the club is likely to lodge a new appeal with the Spanish government's Disciplinary Committee for Sports (TAD), which typically meets every Friday.

Florentino Perez made an official announcement last Thursday that Real Madrid will oppose any sanction

The Cup return leg was due to be played at Real's Bernabeu stadium next Wednesday.

Manager Benitez, who removed Cheryshev as soon as the error was noticed, insisted after the game that the club had acted in good faith.

While Benitez may not be to blame for the administrative cock-up, this is not the first time he has suffered elimination from the competition for non-footballing reasons.

In 2001 his Valencia side were disqualified for fielding too many non-EU players at the Round of 64 stage.

Cheryshev was supposed to serve a suspension for Real Madrid's Copa del Rey clash with Cadiz

This isn't the first time Benitez has been turfed out of the competition on a technicality, as he was with Valencia